2016 Debut Authors Bash: J. Keller Ford + Character Interview!

J. (Jenny) Keller Ford is a scribbler of speculative fiction and YA tales. As an Army brat, she traveled the world and wandered the halls of some of Germany’s most extraordinary castles in hopes of finding snarky dragons, chivalrous knights, and wondrous magic to permeate her imagination. What she found remains etched in her topsy-turvy mind and oozes out in sweeping tales of courage, sacrifice, honor and everlasting love.

When not torturing her keyboard or trying to silence the voices in her head, Jenny spends time collecting seashells, bowling, screaming on roller coasters and traveling. She is a mom to four magnificent and noble offspring, and currently lives in paradise in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area on the west coast of Florida with a menagerie of royal pets, and her own quirky knight who was brave enough to marry her.

Her YA fantasy novel, IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING, Book 1 in the Chronicles of Fallhollow trilogy, is slated for paperback and ebook release on May 31, 2016. Published short stories include “The Amulet of Ormisez” (MAKE BELIEVE anthology), “Dragon Flight” (ONE MORE DAY anthology), and “The Passing of Millie Hudson” (READING GLASSES anthology), which you can find on the “Books” page of this website. – See more at: http://www.j-keller-ford.com/about.html#sthash.8upH0Cdu.dpuf

Read below for a special character interview with Eric!

Hi, Eric, welcome to the blog! How are you doing today?

“I am well, my lady, taking into consideration we are at war with the Dragon King. It’s not exactly a picnic on a sunny day by the Cloverleaf River.” He shifts in the chair, leans forward, and cocks an eyebrow. “But I must ask. What is a blog? Is it a tavern?”

I have to ask, and will probably offend you at the same time, but what the heck does a squire even do?

“I am not offended by your question at all. It is quite typical for a girl such as yourself to not understand the duties of such a position. After all, a day of preening and gossip doesn’t allow for much else, I suppose.” I stare at him, unsure if it is my turn to be offended. Eric rises, all six, feet of him, and stands before the window, his dark hair shimmering in the sunlight. I allow a moment to take him all in. Wide shoulders, taut muscles. Lips that scream kiss me, and trust me I would if I were seventeen. His low, melodic voice snaps me from my daydream. “Squires are extremely important to the knights they serve. We attend to the knight’s horses. We dress the knights in their armour before battle or tournament. We guard prisoners, ensure our Master’s weapons are clean and sharp. We might even be asked upon to do various jobs about the castle, such as helping out the kitchen staff or changing bedsheets, for example.” He turns to me, his green eyes twinkling with humor to match the smile on his face. “I, however, don’t do much of that sort of thing, as I am a squire of the body to the most revered knight ever to live in all of Fallhollow, Sir Trogsdill Domnall. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”

Yeah. uh huh. I shift in my seat. Moving on. How are you and David getting along? Would you consider yourselves best friends at first sight? [;

“Me? David? Best friends?” Boisterous, hearty laughter fills the room. “Oh good heavens no.” More laughter. It’s contagious. I find myself smiling. I don’t want to. “David is a strange lad to be sure. He tries to be all bip and pow, but to be honest, he’s sort of a runt with a snippy attitude. Don’t get me wrong. He’s nice and all, but he’s not built for this war stuff. I expected more than I got, though I do have to say the boy can run. He’s not too bad with a bow and arrow, either. Don’t let it be said that I don’t give credit where it’s due. That doesn’t mean we’re best friends.”

Be honest, what’s your LEAST favorite thing about David?

“He’s cocky and arrogant and he has this odd, peculiar way of speaking that grates my nerves. He is also friends with this amazing girl, Charlotte, whom I’d like to become better acquainted, but I suspect there is more going on between them. Until I know for certain, I must keep my distance, which is difficult as she is quite captivating. Her eyes, however, are for David alone, for reasons only the heavens can understand, and until that changes, I must remain distant. I respect him enough to not interfere in matters of the heart. Besides, we have other things to worry about, like what to do with the dragon in Berg Castle.”

Dude, you got to meet dragons??? What was it like? Did you get to ride it?! YOU DIDN’T ACTUALLY KILL THE DRAGON, RIGHT?!

“Girl, have you lost your mind? We’re talking about Einar. He’s hundreds of feet long, just as wide and near as tall! You don’t ride him, and yes! We intend to kill him. He’s a vile beast and I can’t wait to take that long sinuous neck right off his body.”

Okaaay. Moving on. If you, David, and Charlotte had to dress up as a theme for Halloween, what would you all go as?

“Halloween?”

I explain.

Eric paces the room, his hand cupping his chin as if in deep thought. “Hmm, I suppose I’d dress as the king, Charlotte would be my queen, and David would be the court jester.”

That’s not very nice I tell him, but he just grins and my heart puddles.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

“Hypocrisy, without a doubt. This do as I tell you, not as I do train of thought is dragon dung. You want me to learn, you want me to be the best I can be, lead by example. Don’t speak words out of one side of your mouth and do something completely different. That’s like telling a child not to hit someone while you’re hitting him. Grrr. There’s nothing that burns me more.”

What is your favorite thing about Charlotte?

“Her fire. It exudes from her even when she says nothing at all. I like that.”

Be honest, are readers going to like YOU or DAVID more?

He chuckles that soft laugh of his. “Of course they’re going to like me more. I’ve impeccable manners. I’m educated. I’m trained in warfare. I can ride a horse. I believe myself to have integrity and a sense of humor. What is there not to like?”

Yes. what indeed. I smile. Next question. If you had to ask the author a favor for the next book, what might you ask her?

“Wow, that’s a tough one. I think I’d like to go back in time. See my mother as she was when she was young. Attend Trog’s adoubement ceremony. Maybe write out David for a while and let me get to know Charlotte better without his hovering presence. Of course, more than anything, I’d like the knights and Trog to see me as something more than a glorified valet. Recognize my potential. See me for what and who I am and respect me. That would mean everything.”

Are we going to see more of you?! [;

“Oh yes, my lady. I’m not going anywhere.”

Thanks for stopping by!

“The pleasure was mine.”

YOU GUYS! I LAUGHED SO HARD! For real…..BEST character interview I’ve EVER done with an author! I LOVED THIS!

Seventeen-year-old, Eric, is a kick-butt squire to the most revered knight in Fallhollow. Well he would be if Sir Trogsdill allowed him to do anything even remotely awesome. Determined to prove his worth, Eric sets out to find the mythical paladin summoned to protect the realm from the evil lurking nearby.

Sixteen-year-old, David, spends his days collecting school honors, winning archery tournaments, and trying not to fall in love with his scrappy best friend, Charlotte.

Right when things start to get interesting, he is whisked away to the magical realm of Fallhollow where everyone thinks he’s some sort of paladin destined to fulfill a two-hundred-year-old prophecy. He’s supposed to help kill a dragon with some sort of magic key. The same key that happens to adorn the neck of an annoying squire who’s too wrapped up in proving himself to be much help to anyone.

With egos as big as the dragon they need to destroy, Eric and David must get over themselves, or watch everything they know and love, burn.

Crossed Out (Book 1 Crossed Series) by Kim Baccellia
Published May 17th, 2010
Genre: YA/Paranormal/Fantasy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8423309-crossed-out
Following the light can’t be that hard, right? So why don’t...